Rhythmic performance in hypokinetic dysarthria: Relationship between reading, spontaneous speech and diadochokinetic tasks

Anja Lowit,Agata Marchetti,Stephen Corson,Anja Kuschmann

doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2018.02.005

Anja Lowit, Agata Marchetti + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2018.02.005

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Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether rhythm metrics are sensitive to change in speakers with mild hypokinetic dysarthria, whether such changes can be detected in reading and spontaneous speech, and whether diadochokinetic (DDK) performance relates to rhythmic properties of speech tasks. Method: Ten people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) with mild hypokinetic dysarthria and ten healthy control speakers produced DDK repetitions, a reading passage and a spontaneous monologue. Articulation rate, as well as ten rhythm metrics were applied to the speech data. DDK performance was captured by mean, standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CoV) of syllable duration. Results: Group differences were apparent across both speech tasks, but mainly in spontaneous speech. The control speakers changed their rhythm performance between the two tasks, whereas the PwPD displayed a more constant behaviour. The correlation analysis of speech and DDK tasks resulted in few meaningful relationships. Conclusions: Rhythm metrics appeared to be sensitive to mild levels of impairment in PwPD. They are thus suitable for use as diagnostic or outcome measures. In addition, we demonstrated that conversational data can be used in the investigation of rhythm. Finally, the value of DDK tasks in predicting the rhythm performance during speech could not be demonstrated successfully.

Highlights

Hypokinetic dysarthria is a motor speech disorder associated with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), which accounts for around 8% of all dysarthrias (Duffy, 2013)
Flasskamp, & Schlegel, 2010; Tjaden & Watling, 2003). These findings are mirrored in investigations of rate during speech tasks, i.e. investigations of speech and articulation rate have resulted in findings of similar, slower or faster rates in People with PD (PwPD) compared to their healthy controls (Hlavnička et al, 2017; Kim, Kent, & Weismer, 2011; Lowit, Dobinson, Timmins, Howell, & Kröger, 2010; Skodda & Schlegel, 2008)
In spontaneous speech, %V, ΔC, rPVI-C, VarcoC and rPVI-VC were all significant predictors of group and together they were able to correctly classify 70% of cross validated cases. rPVI-C was highly correlated with ΔC and rPVI-VC (r = 0.909 and 0.896, respectively)

Summary

Introduction

Hypokinetic dysarthria is a motor speech disorder associated with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), which accounts for around 8% of all dysarthrias (Duffy, 2013). The literature describes unimpaired, reduced as well as faster repetition rates, in addition to an increase in the variability of syllable duration (Ackermann, Konczak, & Hertrich, 1997; Rusz, Hlavnicka, Cmejla, & Ruzicka, 2015; Skodda, Flasskamp, & Schlegel, 2010; Tjaden & Watling, 2003) These findings are mirrored in investigations of rate during speech tasks, i.e. investigations of speech and articulation rate have resulted in findings of similar, slower or faster rates in PwPD compared to their healthy controls (Hlavnička et al, 2017; Kim, Kent, & Weismer, 2011; Lowit, Dobinson, Timmins, Howell, & Kröger, 2010; Skodda & Schlegel, 2008). Späth et al (2016) report that PwPD were less able to copy a rhythmical model during an entrainment task than healthy controls, and Grahn and Brett (2009) found that this speaker group was less able to process rhythmic tone sequences

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